Grounding Spacer

ABSTRACT

A grounding spacer is provided. The grounding spacer comprising a circular body having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a central aperture, and a plurality of radially spaced penetration features, wherein at least one of the penetration features has at least a portion thereof extending from the top surface, and wherein at least one of the penetration features has at least a portion thereof extending from the bottom surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/784,847 filed on Mar. 14, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates generally to grounding spacers for making electrical connection between metal pieces that are mechanically joined together.

2. Related Art

Solar panels are becoming an increasingly popular energy alternative. Solar panel frames, and the mounting rails to which they are fastened, can be made of aluminum. However, the solar panel frames normally have anodized surface treatment, which insulates the surface from electrical continuity. As a result, the solar panels are not electrically grounded to the mounting rail. There exists a need in the art for a grounding spacer to provide electrical communication between two such mechanical structures that is easy and simple to manufacture.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a grounding spacer. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a single sheet construction of a grounding spacer having a plurality of penetration features radially spaced about the spacer. The penetration features could alternatingly extend in opposite directions, or the penetration features could each have portions thereof that extend in opposite directions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features of the disclosure will be apparent from the following Detailed Description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a solar panel assembly utilizing grounding spacers of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an assembled view of the solar panel assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a grounding spacer with round penetration features;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the grounding spacer of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top view of another embodiment of a grounding spacer with round penetration features;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of the grounding spacer of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a grounding spacer with elongate penetration features;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the grounding spacer of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side view of an elongate penetration feature of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the grounding spacer of FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional side view of the grounding spacer of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a top view of a flat blank grounding spacer with elongate holes; and

FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of an elongate hole of the grounding spacer of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to a grounding spacer, as discussed in detail below in connection with FIGS. 1-14.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a solar panel assembly 8 utilizing grounding spacers (washers) 10 of the present disclosure. As shown, the assembly 8 includes grounding spacers 10, a solar panel 12 having a top surface 14 and a bottom surface 16, mounting rails (guard rails) 18 having a top surface 20, panel clamps 22, and bolts 24. The solar panel 12 could have an extruded aluminum frame, such as frames with a T6 surface hardness. The grounding spacer 10 could be made of 300 series stainless steel with a temper, for example, of ½ hardness. However, the material and hardness of the grounding spacer 10 could vary depending on such factors as the material and hardness of the solar panel frame and mounting rails 18. The grounding spacer 10 can be manufactured from a single sheet of metal. It is noted that although the grounding spacers 10 are used in a solar panel assembly 8, the spacers 10 could be used in any variety of applications, where mechanical and electrical contact between two materials is desired.

FIG. 2 is an assembled view of the solar panel assembly 8 of FIG. 1. As shown, each grounding spacer 10 is in direct contact with the bottom surface 16 of the solar panel 12 and the top surface 20 of the mounting rail 20. When the bolts 24 are tightened, the clamps 22 will push down on the solar panel 12, and the penetration features of the grounding spacers 10 (discussed in more detail below) will penetrate (e.g., dig into) the aluminum frame of the solar panel 12 and the aluminum mounting rail 18, piercing the anodized surfaces, thereby providing grounding contact between the solar panel 12 and the mounting rails 18.

FIGS. 3-7 are views of grounding spacers with round penetration features. More specifically, FIG. 3 is a perspective front view of a grounding spacer 110 with round penetration features 162, 164. FIG. 4 is a top view of the grounding spacer 110 of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the grounding spacer 110 of FIG. 3 taken along line A-A of FIG. 4. As shown, the spacer 110 may have a top surface 134, a bottom surface 136, a central aperture 132 (e.g., bolt hole), and an outer diameter 130. Top extending (upstanding) penetration features 162 and bottom extending (downstanding) penetration features 164 alternate around the spacer. It is noted that eight penetration features 162, 164 are shown, but any number of penetration features 162, 164 could be used. The penetration features 162, 164 could be formed by stamping sheet metal. More specifically, a stamping process could be used such that sheet metal is first stamped to remove material, thereby forming the outer diameter 130, the central aperture 132, and radial apertures positioned around the central aperture 132. Then the metal around each of the radial apertures could be pushed (or stamped) to form top extending penetration features 162, and then pushed (or stamped) a second time to form bottom extending penetration features 164.

FIGS. 6-7 are views of another embodiment of the grounding spacer. More specifically, FIG. 6 is a top view of a grounding spacer 210 with round holes, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of the grounding spacer taken along line B-B of FIG. 6. As shown, compared to the previous embodiment shown in FIGS. 3-5, the central aperture 232 is smaller in comparison to the outer diameter 230 of the spacer 210. Also, the penetration features 264, 262 are still round but have smaller individual diameters and are radially spaced farther away from the central aperture 232.

FIG. 8-12 are various views of a grounding spacer with elongate penetration features. More specifically, FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a grounding spacer 310 with elongate penetration features 340. The spacer 310 includes a top surface 334, a bottom surface 336, an outer diameter 330, and a central aperture 332. The spacer 310 is shown as circular but could be of any size, thickness, and/or shape. The spacer 310 may or may not include a central aperture 332 or a slot or other structure to accommodate a bolt. The spacer 310 includes a plurality of penetration features 340. Although six are shown, any number of penetration features 340 could be used (e.g., four, six, eight, etc.). Each penetration feature 340 includes an oblong hole partially defined by a top extending rim 342 and a bottom extending rim 344. Separating the two rims 342, 344, and partially defining the oblong hole, is an outer arc 346 positioned toward the outer perimeter of the spacer 310, and an inner arc 348 positioned toward the central aperture 332, which are discussed in more detail below. The top extending rim 342 and bottom extending rim 344 extend in opposite directions, and are shown as being generally u-shaped. It is noted that although an elongate penetration feature is shown, any shape could be used.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the grounding spacer 310 with elongate penetration features of FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side view of an elongate penetration feature 340 taken along line C-C of FIG. 9. FIG. 10 shows the top rim 342 extending from a top surface 334, and a bottom rim 344 extending from a bottom surface 336. FIG. 11 is a side view of the grounding spacer 310 of FIG. 8, and FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the grounding spacer 310 taken along line D-D of FIG. 9.

FIGS. 13-14 are views of a flat blank grounding spacer with elongate holes. More specifically, FIG. 13 is a top view of a flat blank grounding spacer 410 with elongate holes 450. The flat blank grounding spacer 410 could be formed from a flat piece of sheet metal, and does not have any raised surfaces. A piece of sheet metal could be cut (e.g., stamped) into a desired shape (e.g., circular) with a desired number of elongate holes 450 radially spaced. As shown, the sheet metal could be cut, such as by stamping, into a circular shape having an outer diameter 430 and a central aperture 432. This is an intermediate step in manufacturing the grounding spacer, prior to creating the raised rims that provide the penetration features of the grounding spacer.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of an elongate hole of the flat blank grounding spacer 410 of FIG. 13. The elongate hole includes a first arc 452, a second arc 454 opposite thereto, and an inner arc 458 and an outer arc 456 separating the first and second arcs 452, 454. A first portion 463 is defined by the first arc 452 and the bend line 460, and a second portion 461 is defined by the second arc 454 and the bend line 460. The first portion 463 and second portions 461 could be formed into rims (such as shown in FIGS. 8-12) by bending or pushing (e.g., stamping) the first portion 463 up, and the second portion 461 down, such as along the bend line 460. The inner and outer arcs 456, 458 facilitate the manufacture of the penetration features and also relieve stress placed on the penetration features when assembled.

Having thus described the disclosure in detail, it is to be understood that the foregoing description is not intended to limit the spirit or scope thereof. It will be understood that the embodiments of the present disclosure described herein are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make any variations and modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. All such variations and modifications, including those discussed above, are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure. What is desired to be protected is set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A grounding spacer comprising: a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a central aperture; and a plurality of apertures extending through the body; a rim extending about each of the plurality of apertures, wherein at least one of the rims is upstanding from the top surface and at least one of the rims is depending from the top surface.
 2. The grounding spacer of claim 1, wherein the grounding spacer is of a single sheet construction.
 3. The grounding spacer of claim 1, wherein the apertures are round.
 4. The grounding spacer of claim 1, wherein the apertures are elongate.
 5. The grounding spacer of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of apertures has rims alternatingly extending in opposite directions.
 6. The grounding spacer of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of apertures has an upstanding rim portion and a depending rim portion.
 7. The grounding spacer of claim 6, wherein the upstanding and depending rims are side by side around an aperture.
 8. The grounding spacer of claim 6, wherein the upstanding and depending rims are separated by an inner and outer arcs.
 9. A method of manufacturing a grounding spacer comprising: stamping a flat piece of sheet metal to form a flat blank grounding spacer having a circular shape, a central aperture, and a plurality of apertures; and stamping the flat blank grounding spacer to form a plurality of apertures, wherein at least one of the apertures has a rim extending in a first direction, and at least one of the other apertures has a rim extending in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of apertures of the flat blank grounding spacer are round.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of apertures of the flat blank grounding spacer are elongate.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of apertures includes first and second arcs.
 13. A solar panel assembly comprising: a mounting rail for a solar panel; a solar panel mounted to the mounting rail and having an extruded frame; and one or more grounding spacers in mechanical and electrical contact with the mounting rail and the solar panel, each grounding spacer having a body with a top surface and a bottom surface, and a plurality of apertures with upstanding and depending rims, wherein at least one of the plurality of apertures has at least a portion thereof upstanding from the top surface, and a portion thereof depending from the bottom surface.
 14. The solar panel assembly of claim 13, wherein the grounding spacer comprises a single sheet.
 15. The solar panel assembly of claim 13, wherein the plurality of apertures each have rims that alternatingly extend in opposite directions.
 16. The solar panel assembly of claim 13, wherein each of the apertures have rims partially about the aperture that extend in opposite directions.
 17. The solar panel assembly of claim 13, wherein the grounding spacers penetrate the solar panel frame and the mounting rail, thereby providing grounding contact between them. 